Fan frame and fan utilizing the same

ABSTRACT

A fan frame and a fan utilizing the same are provided. A fan frame includes a case, a motor base, at least one airflow guiding component, and a line leading mechanism. The case has a through hole. The motor base is disposed in the case. The airflow guiding components, such as static blades or curved ribs, are radially disposed between the case and the motor base. The line leading mechanism, for positioning a power line and leading the power line out of the case, is integrated with one of the airflow guiding components.

This Non-provisional application claims priority under U.S.C.§ 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 093125864 filed in Taiwan, Republic of China on Aug. 27, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a fan frame, and in particular, to a fan frame for a fan.

Heat dissipating devices or systems are commonly used in electronic devices. A heat dissipating device can dissipate heat generated by an electronic device, thus preventing the electronic device from overheating or burnout. Heat dissipating devices are particularly important to micro-electronic devices, such as integrated circuits. Currently, the most commonly used heat dissipating device is a fan. Typically, blades are disposed in a case of a fan, and the frame is disposed at a position corresponding to a vent of a computer housing, or near the heat generating electronic devices. When a motor drives the blades to rotate, heat generated by the electronic devices is dissipated and exhausted through the vent.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a case of a conventional axial-flow fan. FIG. 1B is a cross-section of the conventional axial-flow fan in FIG. 1A along the line A-A. In the conventional axial-flow fan 10, a fan frame 11 accommodates a motor (not shown in drawings), an impeller 17, and other components. In FIG. 1B, the fan frame 11 is a case having an opening, and the opening penetrates through the case 11 to separately form an airflow inlet 12 and an airflow outlet 13 on the case 11. The motor base 14 is disposed in the case 11 and is preferably at the airflow outlet 13 for supporting the impeller 17. A plurality of static blades 16 are radially disposed between the case 11 and the motor base 14 for guiding airflow F.

Conventionally, power lines 15 connected with the impeller 17 are bundled and disposed along one of the static blades 16. Also, a limiting strap 18 is added for fixing the bundled power lines 15 on the case 11. Usually, the limiting strap 18 is disposed a place on the case 11 where the static blade 16 is connected to the case 11.

In the conventional axial-flow fan 10, however, the power lines 15 may block the airflow outlet 13. The bundled power lines 15 are disposed along one of the static blades 16, hence, the smooth airflow entering the airflow inlet 12 encounters a rough surface, which is caused by the bundled power lines 15, thus producing wind drag and reducing airflow pressure and volume of the axial-flow fan 10. Especially, this disadvantage is more obviously seen in large-sized fans.

Referring to FIG. 1C, FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram of a case of another conventional axial-flow fan. In this axial-flow fan, a plurality of rectangular ribs 19 are radially disposed between the case 11 and the motor base 14 for supporting the motor base 14. The power lines 15 connected to the impeller are disposed behind the ribs 19 in order to prevent a rough surface from being formed, as shown in FIG. 1B. The ribs 19, however, cannot satisfy all character requirements of various airflow pressures and volumes during fans' operation.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention provide a fan frame and a fan utilizing the same. An exemplary embodiment of a fan frame includes a case, a motor base, at least one airflow guiding component, and a line leading mechanism. The case includes an opening. The motor base is disposed in the case for supporting an impeller. The airflow guiding component is disposed between the case and the motor base. The line leading mechanism is used for positioning a power line and leading the power line out of the case. The line leading mechanism is integrated with one of the airflow guiding components.

An exemplary embodiment of a fan includes an impeller and a fan frame. The fan frame includes a case, a motor base, at least one airflow guiding component, and a line leading mechanism. The case includes an opening. The motor base is disposed in the case for supporting the impeller. The airflow guiding component is disposed between the case and the motor base. The line leading mechanism is used for positioning a power line and leading the power line out of the case. The line leading mechanism is integrated with one of the airflow guiding components.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fan frames and fans can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a case of a conventional axial-flow fan.

FIG. 1B is a cross-section of the conventional axial-flow fan in FIG. 1A along the line A-A.

FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram of a case of another conventional axial-flow fan.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a case of an embodiment of an axial-flow fan.

FIG. 2B is a cross-section of the axial-flow fan in FIG. 2A along the line B-B.

FIG. 2C is an enlarged diagram of the ‘Q’ region of FIG. 2B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A Fan frame will be described in greater detail in the following. Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a case of an embodiment of an axial-flow fan. FIG. 2B is a cross-section of the axial-flow fan in FIG. 2A along the line B-B. The fan frame 21 of the fan 20 accommodates a motor base 24, an impeller 27, and a motor (not shown in drawings). The fan 20 is preferably an axial-flow fan appropriate for a large-sized machine, a server system, a combined fan system, or other heat generating electronic devices.

The fan frame 21 is a case 21 having an opening. The fan frame 21 also includes a motor base 24, at least one airflow guiding component 26, and a line leading mechanism 28. In FIG. 2B, the opening penetrates through the case 21 to separately form an airflow inlet 22 and an airflow outlet 23 on the case 21. The motor base 24 is disposed in the case 21 and preferably at the airflow outlet 23 for supporting the impeller 27.

The airflow guiding components 26 are disposed between the case 21 and the motor base 24. In this embodiment, the airflow guiding components 26 are static blades having functions of guiding airflow F. The airflow guiding components 26 are radially disposed at the airflow outlet 23. Alternatively, the airflow guiding components 26 can be curved ribs capable of forming a smooth surface and guiding airflow F. Also, the curved ribs can be appropriately resigned for various cambered surfaces in order to achieve required airflow pressures or airflow volumes.

Referring to FIGS. 2B and 2C, FIG. 2C is an enlarged diagram of the ‘Q’ region of FIG. 2B. The line leading mechanism 28 positions a power line 25 of the fan 20 and leads the power line 25 out of the case 21. The line leading mechanism 28 is integrated with one of the static blades 26, i.e. the airflow guiding components 26. The line leading mechanism 28 includes a line guiding groove 31, and the opening of the line guiding groove 31 faces outside of the case 21 for allowing the power line 25 being disposed therein. The line guiding groove 31 is located below the static blade 26, hence, the line leading mechanism 28 does not directly face the airflow F. Thus, smooth airflow entering the airflow inlet 22 encounters smooth surfaces of the static blades 26. Then, the static blades 26 guide the airflow F to directly exit the airflow outlet 23. Because the power line 25 is disposed in the line guiding groove 31 below one of the static blades 26, it also solves the conventional problem that the bundled power lines block airflow F, and prevents the power lines from blocking airflow F.

Alternatively, the line guiding groove 31, connected between the motor base 24 and the case 21, is exposed out of the case 21, so that the power line 25 is positioned by the line guiding groove 31 and led out of the case 21. Additionally, the line guiding groove 31 includes a restraining portion 29, such as a clasp or a limiting strap, for limiting the power line 25 in the line guiding groove 31, as shown in FIG. 2A.

Alternatively, one end of the line guiding groove 31 is connected with the motor base 24, and the other end is connected with the case 21. The case 21 further includes a through hole so that the power line 25 is disposed in the through hole and the power line 25 can be led out of the case 21 by passing through the through hole.

In addition to the line guiding groove 31, the line leading mechanism 28 can support the power line 25 in other ways. For example, one of the static blades 26 can include a through hole, and the power line 25 can be disposed in the through hole and led out of the case 21.

In an embodiment of an axial-flow fan frame, the width of each airflow guiding component can be the same or not, as long as the airflow guiding components satisfy airflow pressure and volume requirements. For example, the width of the static blade 26 integrated with the line leading mechanism 28 is greater than that of any other static blade 26 which is not integrated with the line leading mechanism 28. In an embodiment of a fan frame, the line guiding groove is integrated with the airflow guiding component to form a smooth surface against the airflow, thus reducing wind drag and potentially improving fan performance.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of several embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements. 

1. A fan frame, comprising: a case comprising an opening; a motor base disposed in the case for supporting an impeller; at least one airflow guiding component disposed between the case and the motor base; and a line leading mechanism for positioning a power line and leading the power line out of the case; wherein the line leading mechanism is integrated with one of the airflow guiding components.
 2. The fan frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line leading mechanism comprises a line guiding groove, an opening of which faces the outside of the case for allowing the power line to be disposed therein.
 3. The fan frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein the opening penetrates through the case to form an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet, and the airflow guiding components are disposed at the airflow outlet.
 4. The fan frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein the case further comprises a hole, and the power line in the line guiding groove is led out of the case by passing through the hole.
 5. The fan frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein the line guiding groove, connected between the motor base and the case, is exposed out of the case, so that the power line is positioned and led out of the case by the line guiding groove.
 6. The fan frame as claimed in claim 5, wherein the line guiding groove comprises a restraining portion for limiting the power line in the line guiding groove.
 7. The fan frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line leading mechanism comprises a through hole, and the power line is disposed in the through hole and is led out of the case.
 8. The fan frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of the airflow guiding component integrated with the line leading mechanism differs from that of any other airflow guiding component not integrated with the line leading mechanism.
 9. The fan frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airflow guiding components are static blades or curved ribs.
 10. A fan, comprising: an impeller; and a fan frame comprising: a case comprising an opening; a motor base disposed in the case for supporting the impeller; at least one airflow guiding component disposed between the case and the motor base; and a line leading mechanism for positioning a power line and leading the power line out of the case; wherein the line leading mechanism is integrated with one of the airflow guiding components.
 11. The fan as claimed in claim 10, wherein the line leading mechanism comprises a line guiding groove, an opening of which faces the outside of the case for allowing the power line to be disposed therein.
 12. The fan as claimed in claim 11, wherein the opening penetrates through the case to form an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet, and the airflow guiding components are disposed at the airflow outlet.
 13. The fan as claimed in claim 11, wherein the case further comprises a hole, and the power line in the line guiding groove is led out of the case by passing through the hole.
 14. The fan as claimed in claim 11, wherein the line guiding groove, connected between the motor base and the case, is exposed out of the case, so that the power line is positioned and led out of the case by the line guiding groove.
 15. The fan as claimed in claim 14, wherein the line guiding groove comprises a restraining portion for limiting the power line in the line guiding groove.
 16. The fan as claimed in claim 10, wherein the line leading mechanism comprises a through hole, and the power line is disposed in the through hole and is led out of the case.
 17. The fan as claimed in claim 10, wherein the width of the airflow guiding component integrated with the line leading mechanism differs from that of any other airflow guiding component not integrated with the line leading mechanism.
 18. The fan as claimed in claim 10, wherein the airflow guiding components are static blades or curved ribs.
 19. The fan as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fan is an axial-flow fan. 